Occ. Code 5201220

RESIDENT PHYSICIAN, NS
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 1, GRADE 35
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 2, GRADE 38

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Medical Specialists perform professional activities, requiring specialized education and training, to provide medical care and treatment, within a recognized medical specialty, for residents of and individuals served by State institutions and facilities.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The levels in this series are distinguished primarily by their completion of training, experience, and licensure requirements. All appointees must be eligible for and maintain full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and must maintain eligibility after appointment.

RESIDENT PHYSICIAN: non-competitive jurisdictional class; requires a limited permit to practice medicine in New York State, completion of one year of post graduate training, and admission to a residency training program approved by the American certifying board of the medical specialty; participates in training programs and assists in providing medical care within an assigned medical specialty.

MEDICAL SPECIALIST 1: requires a license to practice medicine in New York State and completion of a training program approved by the American certifying board of the medical specialty for entrance into their certifying examination or equivalent qualifications; serves as a junior practicing specialist within a recognized medical specialty.

MEDICAL SPECIALIST 2: requires a license to practice medicine in New York State and certification by the appropriate American certifying board of the medical specialty; serves as a senior practicing specialist within a recognized medical specialty; may supervise medical services within a specialty for an assigned facility, program, or unit.

RELATED CLASSES

Medical Specialists 3 serve as chiefs of service, within a recognized specialty, of major medical treatment units or perform other clinical management activities. They are responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the total treatment program for the service or program to which they are assigned.

Clinical Physicians provide general medical care and treatment for residents of and individuals served by State institutions and facilities.

Research Physicians specialize in designing and conducting studies and experiments about the diagnoses, causes, spread, and treatment of diseases and preparing and presenting research reports about their activities.

Cancer Research Clinicians specialize in clinical care and research programs in connection with the cause, cure, treatment, and prevention of cancer.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

NOTE: Resident Physicians in Psychiatry perform duties within that specialty. Refer to Classification Standard 5260201.

Reviews medical history of patients referred for treatment.

• Confers with referring physician and other medical practitioners about the patient.
• Assures that referrals are in order and consistent with the patient's history and possible or confirmed diagnosis.
• Reviews medical records, including the results of prior examinations and tests.
• Participates in case reviews.

Conducts medical examinations of patients.

• Clarifies information in medical history with patient.
• Examines patient by conducting physical examinations and recording results.
• Takes or orders specimen smears, blood tests, x-rays, and other tests to supplement the examination and to assist in evaluating patient signs, symptoms, and problems.
• Makes or confirms diagnosis of patient problems.
• Confers with attending physician to discuss findings and to plan a course of treatment consistent with medical history and other patient requirements.
• Discusses findings of examinations and tests with patient and caregivers and recommends and prescribes treatment and approaches to improve health and well-being.
• Administers treatments and prescribes medications and other treatments to treat illnesses and health problems.
• Conducts follow-up examinations and tests to determine benefits of treatment programs and patient condition and revises treatment in response to findings.
• Records patient information, diagnosis, prescriptions, treatments, and patient response to treatment and medication.
• Discusses patient condition, treatment, and prognosis with family members and caregivers and answers their questions.
• May refer patients to community physicians and health facilities.

May be members of Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams.

In addition, a Medical Specialist 1 or 2 may perform the following duties:

• Coordinates and supervises the treatment and care of an assigned group of patients.
• Supervises the medical care activities of nursing and other direct care staff assigned to the unit or patient group.
• Orders supplies and equipment for the unit or program.
• Periodically inspects health care facilities and recommends and implements improvements.
• Develops and implements training programs for staff.

In addition, a Medical Specialist 2 may perform the following duties:

Administers and manages the medical treatment programs within a medical specialty for an assigned facility, unit, or program.

• Supervises all medical, nursing, patient care, and support staff assigned to the specialty's treatment programs.
• Assigns staff to patients and patient care activities and programs, consults with staff about patients, and approves treatment plans.
• Designs and implements treatment and health care and health education programs.
• Plans and administers the budget for the medical unit, program, or medical specialty at an assigned hospital or facility.
• Reviews and approves staff schedules.
• Plans, develops, and improves health care delivery systems.
• Reviews patient records, assures that treatments are appropriate and within normal parameters for the diagnoses, and assures that records are properly maintained.

Approves the discharge of patients.

Develops and administers procedures and policies for the medical specialty treatment program, facilities, and staff and assures that staff comply with them.

Develops and supervises medical training and residency programs for physicians and medical students assigned to the medical specialty.

INDEPENDENCE OF OPERATION

Medical Specialists work with considerable independence in conducting medical examinations, recommending treatments, and coordinating patient care. In addition, positions at the 2 level receive only limited administrative review when assigned responsibility for managing medical services within a specialty at a facility or for a program or unit.

Resident Physicians generally work under the supervision of Medical Specialists 2 who consult with and advise them about diagnoses and treatment plans and review and approve their treatment recommendations and patient care plans.

COMPLEXITY

Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians regularly apply a complex body of medical knowledge in the performance of their duties. This knowledge is continuously expanding and changing in response to research, development of new treatment techniques, medicines, and technology, and greater understanding of diseases, treatments, and health care management. They must maintain high levels of current knowledge about new developments in medicine and within their medical specialty. Further, they must apply this knowledge while dealing with people who may have limited or no understanding of health care or who are not responsive to treatment for reasons other than their physical condition and the appropriateness of the treatment.

Medical Specialists are regarded as experts in their medical specialty by attending physicians, patients and their caregivers, and other direct care staff. They are relied on to provide expert medical advice, within their specialty, about patient conditions, treatment, diseases, injuries, and health care, while taking into consideration a wide variety of factors that impact on the general well-being of patients.

There is a high level of responsibility for work performance, with Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians responsible for the treatment and care of patients. The consequences of error are great: mistakes may result in injury or death of patients, injury to the reputation of the facility, and dissatisfaction of patients and their families.

COMMUNICATION

Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians have frequent oral communications with patients, caregivers, and medical, nursing, and support staff to elicit and clarify information, answer questions, explain health conditions and treatment methods, coordinate treatment, give orders for patient care, and provide medical advice. Oral communications require that Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians explain complex medical information so that it can be easily understood and comprehended by patients and caregivers, who may have limited or no understanding of medical science.

They have frequent written communications to record information about patients and their treatment, order treatments and prescriptions, and maintain patient records. In addition, written communications include reports about the specialty's health care program, explanations of new developments in health care and treatment, especially regarding the medical specialty, and dissemination of procedural, policy, and other information affecting unit and facility operations.

Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians are legally responsible for the accuracy of the medical information they convey and enter in records.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians supervise patient care staff by prescribing treatments, giving orders to implement treatment programs for patients, supervising the administration of treatment, and answering questions and advising staff about patient care and treatment.

Medical Specialists 2 may supervise all medical, nursing, patient care, and support staff for an assigned specialty, unit, or program by performing the full range of supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

RESIDENT PHYSICIAN

Non-Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license or limited permit to practice medicine in New York State, completion of one year of post graduate training, and admission to a residency training program approved by the American certifying board in a specialty recognized by the Board.

MEDICAL SPECIALIST 1

Open Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license to practice medicine in New York State, and completion of a training program approved by the American certifying board for entrance into their certifying examination or equivalent qualifications, and eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

MEDICAL SPECIALIST 2

Open Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license to practice medicine in New York State, and certification by the appropriate American certifying board of the specialty and eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Date: 10/98